Complete Craps Guide
Craps
The most exciting table in the casino — and one of the most misunderstood. Once you know the Pass Line, you have everything you need to play with some of the best odds in the house.
Step by Step
How to Play Craps
A round of Craps has two phases: the Come-Out Roll and the Point phase. Here's how a full round plays out:
Place Your Bet
Before the Come-Out Roll, place a bet on the Pass Line (or Don't Pass). These are the foundation bets — everything else builds on them.
The Come-Out Roll
The shooter rolls the dice. If they roll a 7 or 11, Pass Line bets win immediately. If they roll a 2, 3, or 12 (Craps), Pass Line bets lose. Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the Point.
The Point Phase
Once a Point is established, the shooter keeps rolling. If they roll the Point number again before rolling a 7, Pass Line bets win. If a 7 appears first (Seven Out), Pass Line bets lose and the round ends.
Add Free Odds (Optional)
After a Point is set, you can place a Free Odds bet behind your Pass Line bet. This bet has zero house edge — it pays true odds. It's the best bet in the entire casino.
Payouts
Pass Line wins pay 1:1. Free Odds pay true odds: 2:1 on a Point of 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8. The combined house edge with maximum odds approaches 0%.
Know the Numbers
Dice Combinations
Two six-sided dice produce 36 possible combinations. Understanding which numbers are most likely is the foundation of Craps strategy.
Relative Probability
What to Bet
Best & Worst Bets on the Table
Craps has more bet types than almost any other casino game. Some are excellent; others are among the worst bets in the casino. Here's what you need to know.
The foundation bet. Wins on 7 or 11 on the Come-Out, loses on 2, 3, or 12. Wins if the Point is made before a 7.
Placed behind the Pass Line after a Point is set. Zero house edge — pays true mathematical odds. Always take maximum odds.
The opposite of Pass Line. Slightly lower house edge. Wins if the shooter Sevens Out. Less popular at the table but mathematically sound.
Works like a Pass Line bet but placed after the Come-Out Roll. Lets you have multiple numbers working simultaneously.
Bet that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7. The 6 and 8 are the most common Point numbers after 7. Decent value.
Place bets on 4, 5, 9, or 10 carry significantly higher house edges than Place 6/8. Not recommended.
One-roll bet that wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Looks attractive but the house edge is high. Avoid.
Bet that a pair (e.g. 4+4) will appear before a 7 or the easy way. High house edge. Avoid.
One-roll proposition bets in the centre of the table. The worst bets in Craps. House edge of 11–16%. Never bet these.
Play Optimally
Pass Line Strategy
Craps strategy is simple: stick to the best bets and ignore everything else. Here's the optimal approach for any session.
Always start with Pass Line
Place your base bet on the Pass Line before every Come-Out Roll. This is your anchor bet — 1.41% house edge, even money payout.
Take maximum Free Odds
Once a Point is set, always place the maximum Free Odds bet behind your Pass Line. This is the only zero-edge bet in the casino. The more you put here, the lower your combined house edge.
Consider Come bets for more action
If you want more numbers working, add Come bets after the Point is set. Each Come bet works like a new Pass Line bet and can also have Free Odds placed on it.
Place 6 and 8 if you want more coverage
Place 6 and Place 8 have a house edge of just 1.52% and pay 7:6. They're the only Place bets worth considering alongside your Pass Line.
Ignore the centre of the table
Proposition bets (Any 7, Hardways, Horn bets) sit in the middle of the table and are called out loudly by dealers. They all carry house edges of 9–16%. Never bet them.
Pro Tip: The combined house edge of a Pass Line bet with 3-4-5x Free Odds is just 0.37%. That's lower than almost any other bet in the casino — including Baccarat's Banker bet.
Separate Fact from Fiction
Common Craps Myths
A 'hot shooter' is more likely to keep rolling
Each roll is independent. Past results have no influence on future rolls. There is no such thing as a hot or cold shooter in a mathematical sense.
Don't Pass players bring bad luck to the table
Don't Pass is a mathematically sound bet with a slightly lower house edge than Pass Line. Other players' superstitions are not your concern.
Dice setting and controlled shooting work
No peer-reviewed study has confirmed that dice setting provides a measurable edge. Casinos use random dice and strict handling rules for a reason.
Craps is too complicated for beginners
The Pass Line bet is all you need to know to play. Everything else is optional. You can play a full session with just two bet types: Pass Line and Free Odds.
Before You Play
Quick Tips for New Players
Learn Pass Line and Free Odds first — that's all you need for an optimal game.
Always take maximum Free Odds — it's the only zero-edge bet in the casino.
Never bet proposition bets in the centre of the table — house edges of 9–16%.
7 is the most common roll (16.67% probability) — the entire game is built around this fact.
Set a session budget before you play and stick to it regardless of streaks.
Don't Pass is not bad luck — it's a slightly better bet than Pass Line.
See How All Games Compare
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